Old couch removal in Montreal: donate, drop off or book a pickup?

To get rid of an old couch in Montreal you have three routes: donate it if it is still clean and solid, take it to an ecocentre, or book a pickup at your door. The most common mistake is putting it out with the bulky items: according to the City of Montreal, sofas, armchairs and mattresses are not accepted in that collection. Here is how to choose, using rules checked on the City’s own pages.

What the City of Montreal says about couches

On its page about what to put out for bulky item and construction waste collection, the City lists upholstered furniture (sofas, armchairs, mattresses) among the refused items. It also notes that other solutions exist:

• some businesses take back used mattresses or furniture when you buy new;
• you can bring upholstered furniture to an ecocentre, but it will not be recycled;
• as a last resort, you can put it out with your household garbage;
• an exception applies in Saint-Laurent, where upholstered furniture is accepted in the bulky item collection if it is placed in a separate pile.

Collection rules and schedules depend on your borough. Before leaving anything on the curb, check the schedule for your address or call 311. If you live in Laval, on the North Shore or on the South Shore, the rules come from your own municipality, not from the City of Montreal.

Option 1: donate or resell a couch in good condition

If your couch is clean, with no tears and no odours, reuse is still the best first step. A few ideas:

• offer it to someone you know, or list it online for free with honest dimensions and condition;
• ask the store where you buy the new couch whether it takes the old one back (the City says some businesses do);
• contact a furniture reuse organization. The City mentions Rebut-récup among other drop-off points for furniture and household items.

Always call before you go. Each organization sets its own standards for condition, maximum size and reception hours. A stained, sagging or moisture-damaged couch is rarely accepted, which is understandable: they have to be able to pass it on to someone else.

Option 2: drop it off at a Montreal ecocentre

The City operates 7 ecocentres. Residents of the Montreal agglomeration can bring upholstered bulky items such as couches, armchairs and mattresses. What to know before you go:

• Documents: one piece of photo identification (driver’s licence, health insurance card, passport and so on) and one proof of address, such as a municipal or school tax bill or a utility bill dated within 3 months.
• Cost: for a resident, the City lists upholstered bulky items as free up to 12 m3 per year, then 31 $ per additional m3.
• Vehicle: each ecocentre limits the length of the vehicle and trailer combination. Check the page for the ecocentre you plan to use.
• Unloading: staff do not help unload, so bring someone for a heavy couch.

You also need a way to move the couch: a pickup, a van or a trailer, plus enough hands to carry it down the stairs. The City suggests checking ecocentre wait times before you leave. This is the cheapest option in dollars and the most demanding in time and logistics.

Option 3: book a pickup at your home

A private pickup service comes to your place, so you do not have to carry the couch down, load it or drive to the ecocentre. It is the practical choice when you have no vehicle, when the couch is stuck in a narrow stairwell, or when you are on a deadline such as a move, the end of a lease or the delivery of a new sofa.

At Good Bye Junk Montréal, pickups start from $150, quotes are free and same-day service is often available. We prioritize recycling and donation, so a couch that is still in good shape can be redirected instead of going to landfill. The final price depends on the volume and the access, and you know it before we begin.

The three options at a glance

How to decide in three questions

1. Is the couch clean and solid? If so, try donating first.
2. Do you have a long enough vehicle and someone to help? If so, the ecocentre is the cheapest route.
3. Do you have a tight deadline, or other items to remove at the same time, such as a mattress, appliances or furniture? A pickup handles everything in one visit.

FAQ

Can I leave my old couch on the curb in Montreal?

Not in the bulky item collection, according to the City: upholstered furniture is refused there, except in Saint-Laurent where it must go in a separate pile. As a last resort the City says to put it out with the garbage. Because rules vary by borough, check yours or call 311.

Does the ecocentre recycle couches?

The City states that upholstered furniture accepted at an ecocentre will not be recycled. Only the Saint-Laurent ecocentre recycles mattresses and box springs.

How much does a couch pickup cost?

Our pickups start from $150. The exact price depends on volume and access. The quote is free, and you can add other items to the same visit.

Do you also serve Laval and the shores?

Yes, we cover Montreal, Laval, the North Shore and the South Shore, within about 80 km.

Want us to handle it?

If you would rather not carry the couch yourself, ask for a free quote: pickups start from $150, often the same day, with priority given to donation and recycling. Our Google rating is 5.0 from 128 reviews. Call +1 (514) 295-2123, see our sofa and chair removal service and our rates, or reach us through the contact page.

Sources

• City of Montreal: What to put out for bulky item and construction waste collection (in French)
• City of Montreal: Dropping off items at an ecocentre (in French)
• City of Montreal: Bulky items and construction materials (in French)

Sources

• City of Montreal: What to put out for bulky item and construction waste collection (in French)
• City of Montreal: Dropping off items at an ecocentre (in French)
• City of Montreal: Bulky items and construction materials (in French)